Package and packaging method for fragile articles



22, 1963 w. 5-1. ABILDGAARZL'J 3,4@6,746

PACKAGE AND PACKAGING METHOD FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed April 23, 19644. Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR, W/LL/AM H. AB/LDGAARD 1963 W. H. ABELDGAARDPACKAGE AND PACKAGING METHOD FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 23, 1964 INVENTOR. l V/LL/AM H. AB/LDGAARD c 1 w. H. AEHLDGAARD3,406,746

PACKAGE AND PACKAGING METHOD FOR FRAC ILE ARTICLES Filed April 23, 19644 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM H. AB/LDGAA/PD Oct. 22, 1968 w, H.ABILDGAARD 3,406,746

PACKAGE AND PACKAGING METHOD FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES 4 SheetSheet 4 FiledApril 23, 1964 I N VEN TOR.

United States Patent Ol 3,406,746 PACKAGE AND PACKAGING METHOD FORFRAGILE ARTICLES William Harry Abildgaard, Los Altos Hills, Calif., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Becton, Dickinson of California, Inc.,Los Gatos, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 23, 1964, Ser.No. 361,975 13 Claims. (Cl. 165-46) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGURE A packagefor a fragile article including a tubular deformable hollow packageblank which has an article folding chamber and an insulating chamber.Insulating means are positioned within the insulating chamber to protectan article which is positioned within the article holding chamber. Thearticle holding chamber is positioned so that when the end portions ofthe package blank are sealed together and closed, the insulating chamberwill surround and protect the article holding chamber and a fragilearticle contained therein.

The present invention relates to a package and a method for packaging afragile article in a protected position during shipment and delivery sothat the article will be capable of being delivered in proper conditioneven though subjected to considerable shock, as for example, beingdropped in a parachute or from a low-flying helicopter or airplane.

The package and method are adapted to handling fragile articles such asmedical supplies, electronic components, and fragile food articles.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved packagefor fragile articles and an improved method of forming such a package.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a package and methodof the above character wherein the resultant package is capable ofwithstanding considerable shock with extremely fragile or bruisablearticles therein.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a onepiece packagefor a fragile article where the article is held at a central location atone portion of the package, and another portion of the package forms anenlarged chamber, encompassing the article, and providing a space forshock-absorbing material such as a gas, a rubber or resilient filler, afoam plastic filler, or the like.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a package for afragile article wherein the shock-absorbing chamber not only protectsthe article against undue shock during shipment or delivery, but alsoapplies pressure to the article in a gentle fashion to hold the articlein its proper position in the package.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a package in whichan article which is adversely affected by an atmosphere including oxygencan be packaged in an atmosphere of inert gas.

Another object of the invention is to provide a package for a fragilearticle having a shock-absorbing chamber wherein the shock-absorbingchamber provides a thermal barrier against undue heating or cooling ofthe article being packed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of certain preferred embodiments thereof andcertain preferred methods, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partially broken away and partially insection illustrating a package blank on the mold on which it is formed;

3,406,746 Patented Oct. 22, 19 68 FIG. 2 illustrates the package blankas shown in FIG. 1 but without its mold, and with the article placedtherein;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view partially in section showing the completedpackage;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by lines 44 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the package andillustrating portions at which the plastic of the package isheat-sealed;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view partially in section illustrating amodified mold of the same character as shown in FIG. 1, for example, buthaving different dimensions in its various parts to accommodate adifferent type of article;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of still another mold for forming apackage blank by dip-molding;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated bythe line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the line 9-9in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view taken as indicated by the line 10-10of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a package blank comprising a tubularmember;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view illustrating the step in which thearticle is installed in the blank of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing the completed package with thearticle installed therein;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view in partially dotted lines illustrating theforming of a package molded on the form shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 15 is a transverse sectional view taken as indi cated by the line1515 in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of still another form of package having a tiedend to close it;

FIG. 17 is the same package illustrating a heat-sealed closure of thewadded type;

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating the article such as a piece of fruit oran egg in place on a package ready for closing;

FIG. 19 illustrates a further step in the closing of the package;

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the closed Package;

FIG. 21 is a view taken in a plane indicated by the line 2121 in FIG.20; and

FIG. 22 is a sectional view of the package taken in a plane indicated bythe line 2222 in FIG. 20.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 5 there is illustrated a packagecomprising in its unfolded condition a thermoplastic blank 10 of asuitable plastic material such as vinyl which is preferably formed bydip-molding on a hollow metal mold 11. This blank 10 is generallytubular in form and has adjacent its upper portion small enlargedarticle-receiving portion or pocket 12 formed on an enlarged portion 13of the mold. In this embodiment the tubular end portion 14 is closed atthe end. Spaced from the article receiving portion 12 is an enlargedchamber forming portion 16 molded about an enlarged portion 17 of themold, and the open end of the tube is formed by a tubular portion 18 ofthe blank molded on a similarly formed portion 19 of the mold.

Referring to FIG. 2, a fragile article, for example, an electronic tube21, is inserted into the article receiving oortion or pocket 12 of theblank 10, and adjacent this electronic tube 21 the tubular portion 14 isclosed as by ties 22 at either side; however, this closure can beeffected by making a heat seal at this portion. Thereafter, the blank isfolded back on itself so as to place the article receiving pocket 12substantially centrally with respect to the enlarged chamber portion 16,and in this case the folding is performed by turning the blank partiallyinside out to bring the enlarged tubular portion 18 at one end intocoincidence with the smaller tubular portion 14 at the other end. Thenthe tubular portion 18 is gathered and twisted into a wad around thetubular portion 14 and is tied at 23, for example, to form a completeenclosure. Alternatively, the closure may be made by forming a wad-typeheat seal, as indicated at 23a in FIG. 5. The chamber portion 16preferably is inflated with a suitable gas which may be air or someinert gas such as nitrogen to form a desired insulating andshock-absorbing chamber 24 about the article receiving chamber or pocket12. The chamber 24 in this case of course is pressured and so exerts acorresponding pressure on the inner chamber or pocket 12 and maintainsthis in a slightly pressurized condition. This chamber 24 forms both ashock-insulating and a heat-insulating portion of the package tomaintain the article against undue changes in temperature, either low orhigh. Alternatively, the shock-absorbing material within the chamber 24may be formed by a resilient filler such as chopped rubber, a foamplastic filler, or other suitable shockabsorbing and heat-insulatingmedium.

The wadded or twisted heat seals 22a and 23a in FIG. may be effected bydielectric heat to form the seal, and provides a secure fastening at thedesired points in the package without allowing undue strains at the edgeportion of the heat seal as would be, for example, the case with alinear heat seal.

The mold 26, shown in FIG. 6, is somewhat similar to the mold in FIG. 1but provides an enlargement at 27 to form the article containingchamber, and another enlargement of greater size at 28 to form the shockabsorbing chamber when inflated. The article in this mold would befilled and packed in the same manner as described in connection with theblank provided by the mold in FIG. 1, the difference in shape of themold being solely to accommodate a more elongated article in this case.

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and illustrate a third form of mold wherein the molditself is provided with two enlarged portions 31 which are similar, andare joined by a reduced neck 32 and have similar tubular end extensions33 and 34, pockets 36 being provided in the portions 31 shaped toprovide a blank to fit a desired article of elongated shape. Forexample, these pockets can be made to fit the shape of an egg, anelectronic tube, or various rare tropical fruits that it is desired toimport from one country to another.

FIGS. 14 and illustrate the method of filling and closing the blank fromthe mold shown in FIG. 7, and in this case, the blank 37 has the pockets38 formed so as to register with each other when the blank is foldedfrom its dotted line position at the right end of FIG. 14 to its closedfull line position, and a wadded twisted heat seal is formed on theoverlapped ends at 39. In this form of the invention, the shape of themold itself provides for enclosing the article 41 within the articleretaining pocket formed by the portion 38, and as the blank 37 isinflated, the overlapped portions are pressed together as indicated at42 and 43. The inflation of these blanks may be performed either justprior to the forming of the heat seal, or at the time of the heat sealby leaving a hollow needle or pipe in place, and then Withdrawing theneedle and closing the package by further heat sealing operation.

FIGS. 11 through 13 illustrate a package formed from an extruded sleeveas the blank. This extruded vinyl sleeve may be approximately of a sizeto fit an electronic tube 52, for example, which is placed in positionat a location spaced but close to one end thereof, then the end of theblank is twisted to form a wad and heat sealed at 53 on either side ofthe article pocket. Thereafter, the remaining long end portion 54 of theblank is folded over to engage the short end portion 56, as illustratedin FIG. 13, and a wadded heat seal 57 is provided on these overlapped orfolded end portions.

FIGS. 16 through 22 illustrate another form of the invention in whichthe package blank is simply a bag 61, which may be closed at its end bytying, as indicated at 62, or by heat sealing as indicated at 63, inFIG. 17. As illustrated in FIG. 18, an article 64 may be placed on oneoutside surface of the bag so that the depression of this surface 66forms a half article receiving pocket 66a, then the bag is folded tobring the two end portions together at 67 for heat sealing or tying, asdesired, so that the article 54 is completely encompassed by a layer 68forming the article receiving pocket, and an article protecting chamber69 is provided entirely about the article so as to form shock-insulatingand/ or heat-insulating chamber means about the article 64.

In all the modifications it will be noted that a onepiece formed plasticpart is provided'either by means of dip molding or by extrusion. In eachform of the invention, there is provided a means'for applying pressureto the article-containing pocket about the article so it is heldsecurely but gently in place and means providing an insulating chamber,both as to shock and as to heat, extending about the article. Thus thearticle in this package can be handled somewhat roughly as, for example,by dropping from an airplane or with a parachute, and still preventinjury to the article.

It will be noted that in each case the pressure chamber is positivelyseparated from the article receiving chamber or pocket by a plastic orrubber wall so that the contents to be shipped are not subjected to anydeleterious effects from the atmosphere employed. Also, in certain formsof the invention, for example in FIGS. 3 and 13, the article-containingpocket is positively sealed from the exterior so that the desiredenvironment such as an inert gas can be placed around the article inthis chamber or pocket, and it could be protected from the harmfuleffects if present of the atmosphere used in the protective chamberabout the article. Thus, for example, in the case of a food articlewhich would be harmed by oxygen, although oxygen can be employed toinflate the protecting or shock-absorbing chamber, the inner chamber canbe made to contain an oxygen-free atmosphere. Also, where the article tobe shipped must be refrigerated or maintained cool, as for example withcertain medicines, it is possible to provide in the outershock-absorbing chamber an endothermic chemical with a certain amount ofwater with which it reacts to provide a cooling solution.

While I have shown and described certain preferred methods of formingthe package, and certain preferred packages, it will be apparent thatthe invention is capable of variation and modification from the formsshown so that the scope thereof should be limited only by the scope ofthe claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. A package for a fragile article comprising a tubula deformable hollowpackage blank having an article holding chamber adjacent one end portionand an insulating chamber adjacent opposite end portion with saidchambers spaced from one another, insulating means within saidinsulating chamber to protect an article within said article holdingchamber, said article holding chamber positioned so that when saidpackage is folded and the end portions of said package blank are sealedtogether and closed said insulating chamber will surround and protectsaid article holding chamber and a fragile article contained therein.

2. A package for a fragile article comprising a tubular deformablehollow package blank having an article holding chamber adjacent one endportion and an insulating chamber adjacent opposite end portion withsaid chambers spaced from one another, said article holding chamberbeing sealed at both ends, insulating means within said insulatingchamber to protect an article within said article holding chamber, saidinsulating chamber and adjacent end portion of the package blank beingturned inside out and the end portions of said blank being sealedtogether and closed thereby forming a sealed package for a fragilearticle contained therein.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein said chambers arespaced with the insulating chamber having a larger diameter than thearticle holding chamber and the article holding chamber having a largerdiameter than the adjacent end portion and intermediate portion of thepackage blank, the end portion of the package blank adjacent theinsulating chamber having a larger diameter than said article holdingchamber and smaller than said insulating chamber to facilitate theformation of said package.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the insulating meansin said insulating chamber is a gas under pressure.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein a fluid material forcooperating in protecting said fragile article is contained in saidsealed article holding chamber.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein a sterilizing mediumis contained within said sealed article holding chamber to maintainsterile conditions therein.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein an oxygen-free gasis included as an atmosphere within said sealed article holding chamber.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein a refrigeratingmedium is provided in said insulating chamber.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said package blankis a bag.

10. A package blank for use in packaging a fragile article comprising aresilient tube of material, said tube having an article holding chamberadjacent one end and an insulating chamber adjacent opposite end, saidtube being deformable so that when a fragile article is placed withinsaid article holding chamber and sealed therein said insulating chambermay be deformed and sealed to surround and protect said article holdingchamber when said ends are folded and sealed to one another.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 10 wherein said package blankis of a plastic material.

12. The invention in accordance with claim 10 wherein said package blankis a bag.

13. The invention in accordance with claim 10 wherein said articleholding chamber is two half pockets in the outer surface of said packageblank intermediate its ends whereby when an article is placed thereinand the package blank folded said half pockets will meet to form acomplete article holding chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,625,804 1/1953 Patch et al16580 2,961,345 11/1960 Petriello 264-215 3,009,566 11/1961 Oakley206--46 3,017,019 1/1962 Cahill 206-46 3,045,289 7/1962 Kling 264-215FOREIGN PATENTS 845,248 9/1960 Great Britain.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES SUKALO, Assistant Examiner.

